'Germany greenest country in the world'

LONDON: Germany has been named the world's greenest country in a global energy report. Just a few days ago, the German government had passed a new round of environmental laws as part of its efforts to meet its ambitious carbon dioxide reduction targets.

According to the report by British Petroleum, while the global energy consumption, driven by China, America and India, rose by 2.4 per cent in 2007, Germany managed to slash its use by 5.6 per cent as against 2006. "Issues such as energy security, energy trade and alternative energies are at the forefront of the worldwide political agenda. Continued weakness in oil supply and increasing demand highlights the challenges we all face in maintaining secure energy supplies," BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph.

According to the report, Germany, apart from making one of the world's biggest cuts in nuclear energy last year, slashed its oil and gas use as well. Only the consumption of coal increased.

While passing new environmental laws recently, German Chancellor Angela Merkel had described them as "crucial for climate protection". She had said that they would help the country reduce its 1990 level of emissions by 40 per cent come 2020.

The laws, which target high polluting lorries and make energy saving designs compulsory for homes built after 2009, are expected to allow Germany to shave 35 per cent off 1990 emissions.